Nursing Report: Evidence-Based Hand Hygiene Practices Analysis

This report, focusing on hand hygiene in nursing, provides an evidence-based analysis of best practices in healthcare settings. The introduction highlights the significance of hand hygiene as a critical component of infection control, addressing the increasing prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and the rise of multi-drug resistant organisms. The report outlines the indications for hand hygiene, prevalence and incidence in Australia, and associated risks, including hospital-acquired infections. It presents the WHO-recommended method for direct observation and synthesizes evidence-based research, including a clinical question, domain, and evidence search using databases like PubMed and EBSCOhost. Critical appraisal of the evidence is conducted, followed by recommendations for enhancing hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. The report emphasizes the importance of a multimodal approach, management support, and readily available resources to reduce infection rates and improve patient outcomes. The conclusion reiterates the value of evidence-based practice in nursing and the significance of implementing effective hand hygiene protocols.